The Sockeye Run Car Show is hosted by the Richmond Lions Club and takes place in Steveston Village by the Steveston Community Centre in June each year.
Unfortunately, as of 2022, this event no longer takes place. It used to attract over 200 classic cars and thousands of car enthusiasts.
Richmond Lions Club Car Show
Steveston Village’s Sockeye Run Car Show was a fundraising event that was well worth checking out! If you liked old-fashioned cars, you would’ve loved it!
Admission to the car show was usually by donation for spectators, and it cost only $15 or so for car entries.
When and Where
The Sockeye Run Car Show took place in Steveston Park from 10 am until 4 pm on the second Sunday of June each year. The event was supposed to celebrate its 30th year on Sunday, June 14, 2020. However, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the event was cancelled. It doesn’t look like the event took place in 2021 either, at least not in its usual format. As of early 2022, the event has been cancelled altogether.
In years that the car show did happen, it took place in the park by the Steveston Community Centre at 4111 Moncton Street. That’s right in Steveston Village which is located in the southwest corner of Richmond about a half hour drive from downtown Vancouver (in good traffic).
The event took place just a short walk from downtown Steveston Village. The Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site was just 750 metres to the west, and the Britannia Heritage Shipyard was just 1 kilometre to the southeast.
What to Expect
At the Sockeye Run Car Show in past years you likely saw over 200 cars and lots of people. There was also live music, plus activities for children most years.
Vehicles at the car show were displayed throughout Steveston Park. There were cars on the grass along Moncton Street, close to 100 more on the field nearby where the stage was, plus even more vehicles on the far side of the park just east of the baseball diamond and dog park.
The band Rain Shadow performed throughout the day in 2019.
Car Show Schedule of Events
The car show’s schedule of activities for 2018 included the following:
- 10:00 am – Car Show opened to the public
- 11:00 am – Judging began
- 11:00 am to 2:30 pm – Hot Wheel Car Races (for kids)
- 12:00 to 2:00 pm – Model Car Workshop (for kids at the community centre)
- 12:00 pm – Open Mic (when aspiring singers performed)
- 12:40 pm – Air Guitar Contest (for kids)
- 2:30 pm – Awards Ceremony
- 4:00 pm – Car Show ended
In addition to the above activities and all the cars to admire, there was also usually a silent auction, a 50-50 draw and live music. There were also a small number of food vendors selling things like mini donuts and hamburgers.
Kids participated in the air guitar contest most years and the top place contestant won a real guitar!
Types of Vehicles
A wide range of cars participated in the Sockeye Run. The emphasis was on North American vehicles, but there were British and European models too.
Below is a list of some of the competition categories in previous years to give you an idea of what the event was like.
- Best Chevrolet (1962 & older and 1963 & newer)
- Best GM (for Buicks, Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs)
- Best Corvette (with separate stock and modified categories)
- Best Ford (including all models except for Mustangs and Thunderbirds)
- Best Mustang (1973 & older and 1974 & newer)
- Best Hot Rod (open and closed)
- Best Muscle Car (1968 & older and 1969 & newer)
- Best European
- Best British Vehicle
- Best Antique
- Best Interior
- Best Paint
- Best Use of Chrome
- Most Outstanding Wheels
- Oldest Vehicle
- Most Distance Traveled
- Ladies Choice
- Most Vehicles Entered
- Best Club Participation
- People’s Choice (Mel Frith Memorial)
- People’s Choice (Hagerty)
- Best in Show!!!
Tips and Advice
Below are some tips and suggestions from past years that would have helped you make the most out of your Sockeye Run Car Show experience.
TIP #1: There were cars spread out in more than one area. If you hadn’t found all 200+ cars, it meant there were more to see and you needed to continue wandering further into the park.
TIP #2: If you like classic cars, then you needed to check this car show out. It was one of the Lower Mainland’s best, and it was free and at a great venue!
TIP #3: If you like this sort of car show, then you’ll definitely want to visit the All British Field Meet at VanDusen Garden in May too. It features over 400 classic British cars and is really impressive!
TIP #4: The Sockeye Run Car Show isn’t the only car show in Steveston Village. There are also classic vehicles on display at the Steveston Salmon Festival on July 1st as part of the town’s Canada Day celebrations. In early December there is also the Christmas Classic Car Cruise. Check them all out!
TIP #5: Admission to the event was free (or by donation), but the car show was also a fundraising event. Money raised went to worthwhile local causes thanks to the Richmond Lions Club.
TIP #6: Steveston Village is a beautiful place. Combine your trip to the car show with visits to other places of interest in the area. Also, the waterfront isn’t too far away and makes a fabulous place for a stroll.
Other Information
For more information about the area, plus ideas on other things to do nearby, click Steveston Village.
A list of other major events in the Lower Mainland throughout the year can be found on our Festivals & Events Calendar.
Other car shows you might be interested in include the following:
- Vancouver International Auto Show – at the Vancouver Convention Centre in March or April.
- Vancouver Easter Vintage Car Rally – a car event on Easter Sunday in Vancouver.
- All British Field Meet – featuring hundreds of classic British cars at VanDusen Garden in May.
- Whistler All British Car Show – a car show that’s part of the Whistler Go Fest Outdoor Festival on the Victoria Day Long Weekend in May.
- Tsawwassen Sun Festival – a community event that includes an antique car show on the BC Day Long Weekend in Tsawwassen.
